Immunization Requirement

All registered students who will have a continued presence on campus must comply with Massachusetts and Harvard University regulations requiring proof of immunization against certain communicable diseases within 14 days of registering. Massachusetts and Harvard University immunization requirements are strict and may differ significantly from other states and countries.

A continued presence on campus is defined as any student who will be on campus (either commuting to or in residence) for a full 2-week, 3-week, 4-week, or 7-week session, or Writer’s Residency course (CREA S-490) at Harvard Summer School.

Students living in Summer School housing are also required to meet the immunization regulations.

This requirement does NOT apply if you are registered in an online course AND will not be living in Summer School housing.

Required Immunizations

You must submit proof of vaccination (or medical or religious exemption documentation) to University Health Services (UHS) if you will have any on-campus presence.

The immunizations that must be certified for participation in on-campus Harvard Summer School courses or programs include:

• Measles (Rubeola): Two immunizations on or after the first birthday, at least one month* apart.
• Rubella (German measles): Two immunizations on or after the first birthday, at least one month* apart.
• Mumps: Two immunizations on or after the first birthday, at least one month* apart.
• Varicella (chickenpox): A history of varicella disease certified by physician or two varicella immunizations at least one month* apart, on March 1, 1995, or later.
• Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis: One dose of “Tdap” every 10 years; only acceptable vaccines are Adacel, Boostrix, or adult acellularpertussis booster. Vaccinations older than 10 years will not be accepted.
• Hepatitis B: Three immunizations. The first and second dose must be at least 1 month* apart. Third dose must be done at least 2 months* after second dose and should be 4 months* after first dose.
• Meningococcal: Harvard requires this immunization for all students who are between the ages of 16 and 21. ACWY vaccine ONLY. Meningococcal B vaccines will NOT be accepted in lieu of ACWY. Those 22 and older do not need this immunization.

*One month is equal to 28 days

Documentation of a blood test proving immunity to measles, rubella, mumps, hepatitis B, and/or varicella (chickenpox) is acceptable in lieu of immunizations. If you do not need to be immunized against hepatitis B because you have had the disease or have a chronic carrier form of it, you must provide documentation of appropriate laboratory tests, or a letter from your physician.

If you do not need to be immunized against varicella (chickenpox) due to previous infection, you must provide documentation of appropriate laboratory tests, a letter from your physician, OR you may fill out the age or date of infection for varicella on the HUHS Immunization form. Your physician must still sign the form indicating that the information provided is true.

If you were born in the United States before 1980, you may waive the requirement for proof of immunity to varicella (chickenpox).

Submitting Your Documentation

To upload your immunization documentation, you must have your Harvard University Identification number (HUID) and you will need to claim your HarvardKey. You will claim your HarvardKey at Key.Harvard.edu. If you do not know your HUID, you will find it at the top right corner of your MyDCE homepage. New Students: Note that HUIDs are only assigned 2 days after you are registered for courses.

If you have your HUID, have claimed your HarvardKey and you encounter problems accessing the Patient Portal, there may be a delay in your information transferring to the Portal. It may take up to three business days after you’ve claimed your HarvardKey for the Patient Portal to be accessible to you.  If it has been more than 3 business days and you encounter problems accessing the Patient Portal Please contact HUIT (Harvard University Information Technology) (617) 495-7777.

Instructions for uploading immunization documentation

1. Visit the HUHS Patient Portal website
2. Click on the button that says “Log into the HUHS Patient Portal”
3. Click Log in with your HarvardKey.
4. On the left-hand side of the window, click on Medical Clearances.
5. Items Required for Clearance will appear on the right.
6. Click on the green Update button for each required immunization.
7. For each required immunization, enter the date of the vaccination. Enter dates using MM/DD/YYYY format.
8. For each required immunization, upload the supporting immunization documentation.
9. Click Done.
10. If the upload does not work, your file may be too large. It is suggested that you try to upload in multiple, separate batches.

More information about university immunization requirements and the process of uploading documents to the Patient Portal can be found with University Health Services

Confirmation of Compliance

You will know that you’ve complied with the requirement when you see your status for each immunization requirement in your Patient Portal updated with a green marking indicating “compliant.”

The review by UHS is not instantaneous and may take several business days from the time you uploaded your document. If you see a red mark indicating “not compliant,” your immediate attention is required to resolve your status and to ensure your compliance prior to the start of the term. Note that UHS review time will not affect your registration. Students do not need to be compliant within 14 days of registering, they must only submit.

Requests for Exemption

The only circumstances that may exempt you from these regulations are as follows:

• Providing written certification from your physician that your health would be endangered by one or more of the immunizations (in which case, you will be required to submit laboratory evidence of immunity to measles, mumps, rubella, varicella [chickenpox], and hepatitis B as an alternative to proof of immunization).

OR

• Providing a signed statement that the required immunizations conflict with your religious beliefs. (In this case, it is recommended that you present evidence of immunity as described above.)

In either case, if there is an outbreak on campus of any of the above named diseases for which you have not submitted acceptable documentation, you will be administratively withdrawn from classes.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

You are required to submit documentation within 14 days of registering for any course with any on-campus presence.

You risk being dropped from your on-campus courses, even after classes begin, if you do not upload your documentation in an expedited manner or if your status is noncompliant.

You are responsible for any expenses that you incur if you fail to comply with the University’s immunization policy and are dropped from class.

IMPORTANT: If you register in the final days of registration, it is your responsibility to upload immunization documentation in an expedient manner according to the directions above. You run the risk of being dropped after courses begin for non-compliance.

Email reminders

The Harvard Summer School will send frequent email reminders regarding this policy to those students registered in on-campus courses. Please be on the lookout for our emails and check your SPAM folders for our communications. It is your responsibility to comply with this policy, as outlined under Expectations.

Who to Contact

General questions regarding the requirement or email reminders: Immunizations@Summer.Harvard.edu

Specific questions regarding document and compliance status: MRecords@huhs.Harvard.edu or (617) 495-2055. Please be sure to have your full name and/or HUID ready for UHS to look up your records and properly assist you.

Note: Immunizations@Summer.Harvard.edu cannot answer inquiries regarding your specific documentation or compliance status. All documentation uploaded to Patient Portal is specifically reviewed by UHS staff.

Frequently Asked Questions